Woman dead after security guard fires shot during fight at nightclub in Chicago's western suburbs
A 21-year-old woman from Chicago's Little Village neighborhood is dead after a security guard fired a shot in a Stone Park, Illinois nightclub early Saturday morning.
Stone Park police confirmed a fight broke out inside the Mansion Nightclub, at 3801 W. Lake St, just before 1:40 a.m. Police said a security guard pulled out a gun and fired once, hitting and killing the 21-year-old Zulma Pacheco.
Police said the suspect was taken into custody a few hours later. The suspect was released Sunday night, police said.
Pacheco's boyfriend said he was at the Mansion Nightclub with her Friday night into early Saturday morning, and they both saw a fight break out inside the club when a single shot hit and killed Pacheco.
Pacheco was the oldest of five kids. Her family said she was always helping her mom, who is now dealing with the unimaginable loss of her daughter.
"Even on Christmas, she spent all her checks buying Christmas gifts for the kids," said Pacheco's mother, Elizabeth Uriza.
CBS News Chicago spoke with the family inside their home in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, where dozens of family members gathered to grieve together.
A memorial for Pacheco was placed in the center of them all.
"They went to have fun, and she got shot," Uriza said.
Pacheco's family said video from Facebook showed the moment when a man in a black shirt and pants fired a shot during a fight. The family said the shot hit Pacheco in the chest.
"When he was about to shoot, he got hit and just made him shoot wherever," said Pacheco's boyfriend of five years, Joel Chimborazo, "and I don't know how the bullet went past me and just hit my girlfriend."
Chimborazo said he and Pacheco were dancing when she was shot.
"When I tried lifting up her body, it felt heavier than usual," he said, "and then I saw like blood leaking."
For Chimborazo, he said the hardest part of it all is losing the constant communication the two of them had over the last five years.
"Even if we sue or get money from it, she's not going to come back," he said. "I want to do all of that, but she's not going to come back. This is not temporary, this is like forever."
Now, Pacheco's family said they are preparing to say goodbye to her one last time. They are also asking for donations to help her mother pay for her funeral.
"At this time, she needs all the support she can get from everybody," said Uriza.
Meanwhile, the mansion put out a statement reading:
"We are heartbroken by the incident that took place.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone touched by this tragedy, and we are doing all we can to support local authorities as they navigate this difficult time."
The nightclub was closed overnight Saturday into Sunday, and an event was postponed. Nightclub officials said they want to allow space for healing.
